South Named Purple Heart University
Posted on April 30, 2025
The University of South Alabama鈥檚 commitment to its military affiliated students continues to be recognized.
In an April 29, ceremony, South and Mobile chapter of the Military Order of the Purple Heart signed a proclamation designating the University as a Purple Heart University.
Earning a Purple Heart University designation requires an institution to have purposeful approaches in place to support its military-affiliated population, especially those who have been wounded in combat.
鈥淭his means the world to us,鈥� said President Jo Bonner. 鈥淭his designation is such an honor, especially considering what Purple Heart recipients have sacrificed for our country.鈥�
South has not only met the minimum standards in providing specific programs to aid its military population in their academic endeavors but exceeded those benchmarks.
鈥淚 have been impressed with how South has helped integrate the military members into its campus community and the opportunities they have presented to them,鈥� said Alabama鈥檚 State Commander Andrew Del Gaudio. 鈥淚鈥檓 proud to recognize this university.鈥�
吃瓜爆料 Director of Military Services David Blair said the most impactful service offered to military-affiliated students is assistance accessing scholarship benefits through the GI Bill.
鈥淲e find so many students who are not aware of how their benefits work and sometimes aren鈥檛 aware that they are eligible for a benefit until we begin to ask them questions,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e been able to assist several veterans and their family members with obtaining benefits they didn鈥檛 know they had.鈥�
South is one of just three Purple Heart Universities in Alabama. Earlier this month, the University also earned the 2025-2026 Military Friendly School Gold Award designation.
